Korean J Pediatr Hematol Oncol.
2004 Oct;11(2):171-178.
Polymorphisms within Glutathione S-transferase Genes in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. cj@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Abstract
- PURPOSE
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are polymorphic genes. Absence of enzyme activity due to homozygous or heterozygous deletion of the gene is associated with reduced detoxification of carcinogens and potentially increasing the risk of cancer. METHODS: DNA was extracted from bone marrow aspirates of 26 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and from peripheral blood of 13 controls. PCR amplification was used to assess GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 at codon 105 and 114 genotypes for cases and controls. RESULTS: We investigated the polymorphisms within the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes in children with ALL. The null (absence of both alleles) genotype for GSTM1 was 2.6-fold [odd ratio (OR), 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1-1.5; P=0.043] increased in children with ALL, whereas the frequency of GSTT1 null genotype in ALL cases was not statistically different from that of controls. GSTP1 Val105/Val105 genotype showed a 1.6-fold (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.16-2.43; P=0.38) increase in ALL in comparison to the combined category of Ile105/Val105 and Ile105/Ile105 genotypes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that polymorphisms within genes of the GST superfamily (especiallly GSTM1 null type) may be increased in childhood ALL.